Tow #30- Letter to a New APELC Student

Dear APELC Student,

Junior year IS hard. I know you've most likely heard this already, and I'm sorry, but don't give up. Don't relax too much either. The stress that accompanies junior year and AP classes is meant to challenge you and help prepare you for college, even if you don't feel ready yet. Also know that your writing will improve: be happy with what skills you have already mastered by the start of AP English and be optimistic about the future of your writing.

I hope I can give you some advice about APELC that  will make the class more worthwhile and beneficial. The following is what I wish I would've known before starting the class:

1. There is never such a thing as "just reading" or reading once while in APELC- Make notes and annotate (combined, this is also known as "close reading") very article and essay you read for the class. If you read something and don't understand it the first time, READ IT AGAIN even if you don't want to or you are up late with other homework. The information you will get from taking time to seriously read and understand a text will help you to understand and participate better in class and will improve your essays. Also, don't read a text specifically for rhetorical strategies; read it for its argument/claim and or purpose. Then, go back and figure out what strategies the author uses to accomplish that purpose or make that argument.

2. Be organized and serious about your AP English blog- The blog you were asked to create and post on during the summer will be with you long after you have taken the AP exam, and will be a constant source of homework once you start "TOWs". Don't neglect it or be lazy about maintaining it, because it can help you and can boost your grade. Another point: don't procrastinate on your TOWs and try to write them like small essays from the beginning. Slacking off on TOWs makes it easier to slack off on in-class essays and other shorter writing assignments.

3. Ask questions- If you don't think your writing is improving, ask questions about it, have it checked, and do more practice. As corny as it may seem, practice does make almost perfect. (Note: You can never ace an essay, only get a 98 by getting a 9.)  If you get stuck in a rut, and get the same score on essay after essay, looks for common mistakes. Don't be ashamed to show your work to others, and remember to peer edit other people's essays the way you would want to have you essay edited. Honest, but helpful and considerate editing is ideal. Don't be afraid of constructive criticism, and don't be nice to friends when it comes to their writing. If you want to help them, and their writing needs to improve, tell them and help them! :)

Overall, try to make the most of APELC. It's your chance to take a college course and still receive help from teachers on your writing and understanding of readings. Professors,  most of the time, are not as considerate as high school teachers.

Lastly, remember that as much as tired as you get and as emotional as you may become about the class ( on your worst, most stressful days), it is you who is turning in the assignments and preparing for class. Don't be mad at friends who have less homework, parents who go to bed hours before, or teachers who continue to pile on the homework. You will improve something and/or learn something. It will be worth it in the end!

Good luck throughout the year! With effort and optimism, you will do wonderfully!

Sarah

Tow #29- Documentary Rhetorical Analysis 2

Viewing Goal: Identify arguments made in The Queen of Versailles

Writing Goal: Use personal knowledge I've gained throughout the year's Tows and readings to take a position on one argument I've identified 

For much of America's history, the country has been known as a "melting pot" or "mixed salad"- people of every culture define themselves as one nationality, as "Americans", and blend their ideas and ways of life. But even though being called an "American" can be somewhat vague of a description, the title "American" also represents being a part of a powerful, capitalist society and, in many cases, part of a moral and loving family. People across the globe idolize the United States for its "American Dream"- to make it rich, be successful, and live a free, happy life with friends and family. The documentary The Queen of Versailles claim that the Siegel family is an "American family" is true to the extent that the family has achieved the "American Dream", but does not live up to American familial or social values.

Though the Siegel family is rich and famous, they do not live as an "American family" should. David and Jackie Siegel supposedly come from "humble backgrounds", but at the same time do not seem overall concerned about saving money at home, just saving money overall. Jackie worries about donating things and the employees they had to lay off, but continues to shop and drive around in a chauffeured limo.  David worries about their Las Vegas resort and his wife's credit cards, but is extremely hesitant to sell the 90,000 square foot, $75 million "home" that he is building, nicknamed Versailles. Neither one realizes that they aren't really struggling, and neither one is eager to cut out things that really are unnecessary luxuries in order to live a still comfortable life and save their business. They don't notice the ridiculousness of a house such as Versailles, but argue over things like the lights being on when David gets home from work. The Siegels also cannot agree and fight within their own family. David's son admits that he is the only one of David's sons (who are part of the family business, Westgate) who will still stand by his father's decisions. Their staff, including their nannies, who are from South Asia (the Philippines? Vietnam?) cannot be with their families because they are required to care for the Siegel children. Victoria Siegel, one of David and Jackie's daughters, admits that she believes her father married her mother so he would have a pretty trophy wife to show off. Jackie knows nothing about the family finances, and feels out of the loop and stupid for being unaware. The family is not living with good family relationships; even though many American families do not have good relationships, many do not deal with the same issues at the same scale and almost no one else can blow off such issues to continue to live in luxury. The Siegel family does not live up to ideal "American Dream" familial or social values, even though the documentary argues that they are true, "down-to-earth" people.

In The Queen of Versailles, the Siegel family is presented as an average American family, happy and living the American Dream and acting on "American" social and familial values. They do not fit the true picture of America, despite the fact that the United States has a diverse population economically, socially, and racially. Whether the majority of America lives up to these morals or not, the Siegels are so "over-the-top" that their behavior doesn't fit in with skewed American morals. In fact, in many ways, the Siegels cannot be considered stereotypically "American" and do not act in ways that agree with American morals.